The valley has another golden girl. Cronkite News reporter Tyler Fingert was outside the Olympic arena where Tempe-trained wrestler Helen Maroulis became the first American woman to win gold in women’s wrestling.

Just steps away from the sands of Ipanema Beach sits the USA House, offering athletes, families, U.S. Olympic legends, sponsors and donors a home away from home during the games along with a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro from the rooftop deck.The USOC took over Colegio Sao Paulo to create the USA House. The seven-story Catholic school, which serves more than 600 students from ages three to 17, will act as the hospitality haven for Team USA throughout the Olympics.
The USOC and sponsors paid to renovate parts of the 50,000-square-foot building with a new air conditioning system, fresh paint and Wi-Fi that will stay behind for the students to enjoy after the conclusion of the games.
While some countries open their hospitality houses to the public, others, including the U.S., China, Russia and Canada, keep them closed with an invite-only system.
As visitors walk into the USA House the...

The last time the U.S. women’s basketball team lost an Olympic game, the WNBA didn’t even exist. It was 1992 in Barcelona, when the U.S lost 79-73 in the semifinals to Russia. They went on to win the bronze medal in those Olympics when they defeated Cuba 88-74. That win began a 46-game Olympic winning streak that includes the first five games the U.S. team has played here in Rio. But Olympic veteran guard Diana Taurasi says her teammates have never let the 24-year run of victories go to their heads. She credits Team USA head coach Geno Auriemma for molding a strong team made up of women more accustomed to being adversaries on the court during WNBA play.

Arizona State has become one of the top training spots for swimming at the Rio Olympics. Not only is it home to Olympic stars like Michael Phelps and Allison Schmidt, but it is also home to a few other ASU swimmers who qualified for the Olympics. Katarina Simonovic, Richard Bohus and Anna Olasz are three ASU swimmers who have represented Serbia and Hungary at the 2016 olympics, and for them, it is hard to contain their excitement.

Olympic diver Mickis Benedetti has had a unique journey on the road to Rio. Born in Parma, Italy, the 3-meter springboard specialist decided to pursue his athletic career at Arizona State University, where he earned Pac-10 Diver of the Year honors in 2008. Now, Benedetti will use those skills he learned as a Sun Devil in his second Olympics for the Italian team.

One valley family just can’t get enough of the Olympic Games. Cronkite News reporter Alex Caprarielo introduces us to the Brandts, who are bringing a multi-generation tradition to Rio De Janeiro. That tradition traces back to the Arizonan’s First Olympics in 1964.

Kerri Walsh Jennings is on a quest for her fourth straight medal, this time with new partner, April Ross. When the 2012 match in London ended, where Kerri and April took home gold and silver respectively, Kerri went up to April and told her,"Let's go win gold in Rio." Giselle Cancio caught up with the pair on the beach in Rio.